Abraham Lincoln and slavery Abraham Lincoln's position on slavery was one of the central issues in American history. Lincoln often expressed moral opposition to slavery in public and private.[1] Initially, he expected to bring about the eventual extinction of slavery by stopping its further expansion into any U.S. territory, and by proposing compensated emancipation (an offer Congress applied to Washington, D.C.) in his early presidency. Lincoln stood by the Republican Party platform in 1860, which stated that slavery should not be allowed to expand into any more territories. In 1842, Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd, who was a daughter of a prominent slave-owning family from Kentucky.[3] Lincoln returned to the political stage as a result of the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act and soon became a leading opponent of the "Slaveocracy"—that is the political power of the southern slave owners. Early years[edit] Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky[5] (now LaRue County). Emancipation[edit]
Andrew Johnson Johnson was born in poverty in Raleigh, North Carolina. Apprenticed as a tailor, he worked in several frontier towns before settling in Greeneville, Tennessee. He served as alderman and mayor there before being elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1835. As Southern states, including Tennessee, seceded to form the Confederate States of America, Johnson remained firmly with the Union. Early life and career[edit] Childhood[edit] Polly Doughtry apprenticed her elder son, William, to a tailor, James Selby. Andrew Johnson was not happy at James Selby's, and at about age 15, ran away with his brother. Move to Tennessee[edit] Johnson left North Carolina for Tennessee, traveling mostly on foot. In Greeneville, Johnson established a successful tailoring business in the front of his home. Johnson's tailoring business prospered during the early years of the marriage, enabling him to hire help and giving him the funds to invest profitably in real estate. Political rise[edit]
Robert E. Lee Confederate States Army commander Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, towards the end of which he was appointed the overall commander of the Confederate States Army. He led the Army of Northern Virginia—the Confederacy's most powerful army—from 1862 until its surrender in 1865, earning a reputation as a skilled tactician. In 1865, Lee became president of Washington College (later Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia; in that position, he supported reconciliation between North and South. Early life and education Oronoco Street, Alexandria, Virginia"Lee Corner" properties Lee was born at Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Henry Lee III and Anne Hill Carter Lee on January 19, 1807.[4] His ancestor, Richard Lee I, emigrated from Shropshire, England, to Virginia in 1639.[5] Military engineer career Lee at age 31 in 1838, as a Lieutenant of Engineers in the U.S. Robert E. Texas
Historical rankings of Presidents of the United States In political science, historical rankings of Presidents of the United States are surveys conducted in order to construct rankings of the success of individuals who have served as President of the United States. Ranking systems are usually based on surveys of academic historians and political scientists or popular opinion. The rankings focus on the presidential achievements, leadership qualities, failures and faults.[1][2][3] General findings[edit] George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Political scientist Walter Dean Burnham noted the "dichotomous or schizoid profiles" of presidents, which can make some hard to classify. David H. Historian and political scientist Julian E. Notable scholar surveys[edit] The 1948 poll was conducted by historian Arthur M. The Complete Book of U.S. The Siena Research Institute of Siena College conducted surveys in 1982, 1990, 1994, 2002, and 2010. The 1996 column shows the results from a poll conducted from 1988 to 1996 by William J. "George W.
James Buchanan Buchanan statue in National Portrait Gallery James Buchanan, Jr. (/bjuːˈkænən/; April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868) was the 15th President of the United States (1857–1861), serving immediately prior to the American Civil War. He is, to date, the only president from Pennsylvania and the only president to remain a lifelong bachelor. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives and later the Senate and served as Minister to Russia under President Andrew Jackson. By the time he left office, popular opinion was against him, and the Democratic Party had split. Early life[edit] Buchanan was born in a log cabin in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania (now Buchanan's Birthplace State Park), in Franklin County, on April 23, 1791, to James Buchanan, Sr. (1761–1821), a businessman, merchant, and farmer, and Elizabeth Speer, an educated woman (1767–1833).[4] His parents were both of Ulster Scots descent, the father having emigrated from Donegal, Ireland in 1783. Political career[edit]
Battle for Mexico City The Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847, in the general vicinity of Mexico City during the Mexican–American War. Included are major actions at the battles of Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, culminating with the fall of Mexico City. The U.S. Background[edit] The major objective of American operations in central Mexico had been the capture of Mexico City. Battles[edit] Molino del Rey[edit] On September 8, the fight for Mexico City began. Molino del Rey is on the left. Chapultepec[edit] The main assault on the city came a few days later on September 12. Attacks on the Belén and San Cosme Gates[edit] Fall of Mexico City[edit] Stragglers from the Mexican army left in the city after Santa Anna's withdrawal climbed to the roofs of houses and began shooting at the American soldiers. Order of battle[edit] United States[edit] US Army – Major General Winfield Scott Mexico[edit] 7 August 1847—20,210 men and 104 artillery pieces acs Gens.
Presidency of Abraham Lincoln This article details Abraham Lincoln's actions during the American Civil War. Lincoln, despite being little prepared for it by prior military experience, was first and foremost a war president. The nation was at peace for less than six weeks of his presidency and it was the only presidency that was entirely "bounded by the parameters of war".[1] Lincoln was called on to handle both the political and military aspects of the war, and his leadership has to be evaluated based on his ability to balance these inseparable parts of the Union's efforts. Lincoln ran on a political platform opposing the policies of the Pierce and Buchanan administrations that would have preserved slavery for the foreseeable future. Secession winter 1860–1861[edit] President-elect in Springfield[edit] As Lincoln's election became more probable, secessionists made it clear that their states would leave the Union. Lincoln was in his hometown of Springfield on election day. Early military concerns[edit] Salmon P.
Franklin Pierce He made many friends, but he suffered tragedy in his personal life; all of his children died young. As president, he made many divisive decisions which were widely criticized and earned him a reputation as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history. Pierce's popularity in the Northern states declined sharply after he supported the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which replaced the Missouri Compromise and renewed debate over the expansion of slavery in the American West. Pierce's credibility was further damaged when several of his diplomats issued the Ostend Manifesto. The historian David Potter concludes that the Ostend Manifesto and the Kansas–Nebraska Act were "the two great calamities of the Franklin Pierce administration.... Philip B. "a good man who didn't understand his own shortcomings. Early life and education[edit] In fall 1820, Pierce entered Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, one of nineteen freshmen. Life in New Hampshire[edit] State politics[edit] Marriage and family[edit] U.S. U.S.